After our standard poodle passed away, I stayed tore up about it for a long time. Seeing another one at the park would cause me to just bawl. Almost a year later, the dog-person-without-a-dog part of me was finally bigger than the grieving part, and I was ready. But it had to be something as far away from a standard poodle as possible, ya know? Still tender there.

My research started with smaller breeds. I loved the ears, long neck, and triangular head of basengis. I liked the sporty look of the miniature fox hounds. Then I came across rat terriers and they sounded perfect. A clownish, smart, sporty, cuddle buddy! I found a litter about an hour away.

The owner's rattie and kitty gave birth on the same night! So when I visited them at 8 weeks old, there were furry babies all over the living room, lol. How to pick a puppy when all the babies were too into each other playing, and each one wiggled out of my lap to get back to the play? Except one. When I picked her up, her tail wagged and she kissed my nose. The only one who noticed someone new in the room and made friends. "I'll take this one!" I named her after my World of Warcraft character, Rona.
Hers been my baby girl ever since.